Compression and baling device

ABSTRACT

A compressing and baling machine has a compression compartment formed from an endless slat conveyor in the form of an endless mat, which is driven by a pair of rotatable plates interacting with the mat. The endless mat and the frame which it travels upon is deformable into a circular shape, and then sealed by the rotatable plates during compression. The baled product is removed from the compression compartment by the same end plates and is further handled by an output part of the machine which is connected to the plates.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a device for baling goods, such as forexample waste, fiber material and the like, and which includes adrivable pressing part for receiving and compressing the intended goods,and an output part for handling the pressed bale.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Today it is difficult and expensive for municipalities to constructapproved waste deposts. Waste transports are expensive. Special dusttransports transport small amounts of waste per journey and are drivenempty during the return trips. At the conventional storage facilities itis also required that the waste be covered by dirt or clay once a day.The most problematic situation for future generations are the greatenvironmental hazards that result from saturation of dangeroussubstances in the ground water as well as the toxic gases which areformed during the fermentation process of the waste.

Handling of waste today is an extensive enterprise which includesseveral different stages and actions, for example, gathering, packeting,packing together, transport, storage, sorting, and recycling. One thingis sure, and that is that the amount of waste grows from year to yearand that problems consequently arise when trying to handle this growingamount.

The above problem is solved to a great extent by compressing the wastesand then coating them with plastic, making it airtight. This procedureprovides several advantages:

1. Greater flexibility--Instead of waste and other waste products beingloaded in comprimator transports, they can be supplied directly to acompressing plant and after compression, fed out as ready pressed bales.

2. Higher efficiency--The compressing plant can be made mobile so thatseveral smaller receiving stations may be utilized, so that thedistances of hauling the waste diminishes.

3. Cleaner receiving stations--When the amount of loose waste diminishesthe discomforts for people in the neighborhood is reduced due to lessodor being emitted when the bale is coated with plastic, this is becausethe fermentation and the mouldering process of the waste ceases.Furthermore, a compressed round bale of 1200×1200 mm weighs an average900 kg and occupies less volume.

4. Cheaper transports--Rather than using special cars for relocating thewaste up to 10 miles away, now the dust bales may be interstored next tothe pressing station. They are then transported with common trucking orrailcar transports to either final storage, an incinerator, or arecycling company.

5. Better exploitation of an existing transport system--A vehicle whichhas not received a full load may be completed with dust bales.Truck-drivers can exploit waiting periods, in which they otherwise wouldnot have time to transport new goods, to thus transport dust bales.

6. The waste depots may store more waste on a smaller area, therebysaving money because construction of a waste depot is very costly and itis difficult to find an approved site.

7. No trickling of poisons into the ground-water--The bales are coatedairtight with plastic so no water enters which may release chemicals (aslong as the bales do not stand in water).

8. No toxic gases are generated.--Mouldering and fermentation ceasessince the waste is no longer exposed to oxygen. However, the bales mustbe handled in such a way that the plastic is not damaged.

A previously known round bale press for waste and the like includes alaterally open press consisting of rollers placed in a ring shape. Aconsiderable amount of waste falls out from the press at the lateralopenings and furthermore, the driving of the rolls is complicated sincethe rolls are exposed to dirty goods.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to solve the above problemswith simple but yet robust and durable means.

Said object is achieved by means of a device which mainly ischaracterized by a pressing part that includes an endless mat that isdrivable, guided and formable to form a compression chamber, whereby themat driving part is comprised of rotatable plate end pairs which havedriving connections cooperative with the pressing mat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiment of the invention is referred to in thefollowing drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a round baling plant with the pressmat shown in an opened position and with the driving end discs in afolded-out position;

FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic side view of the plant in said samepositions;

FIG. 3 shows the plant in the bale extraction prepared position;

FIG. 4 shows the plant in a bale pressing position;

FIG. 5 shows the plant in said bale pressing position without the enddiscs and bale pivot arms being shown;

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the plant with a net wrapping part;and

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the support and driving meansrespectively, for a pressing mat.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

According to the present invention, presented is a round baling plant 2for baling waste goods, fibrous material and the like, and it includes adrivable pressing part 3 for receiving and pressing the intended goods,as well as an output part 4 for handling the pressed bale 5, wherein thepressing part 3 is designed as an endless mat or conveyor and which isdrivable, guided, as well as formable to constitute a compressionchamber 6.

The driving part 7 is comprised of rotatable end discs 8, 9 whichincludes driving or power transmitting means or connections 10, 11,which are cooperative with the drive meshing means 12, 13 of pressingmat 3. The power transmission means 10, 11 are preferably evenlydistributed along at least one of the sides of the end plates 8A, 9A andwhich are arranged axially projecting from an intended compressingchamber 6 when the end plates 8, 9 are placed in position 1 (FIG. 6)alongside said compressing chamber 6 somewhat forward of the mat 3.

The power transmission means which for instance is formed by severalconveyor pins 10, 11 projecting axially from the end plates 8, 9, andare circularly distributed along at least one side 8A, 9A of the endplate which faces outwards of the intended compressing chamber 6. Theseconveyor pins 10, 11 are in driving engagement with the pressing mat 3,cooperative with driving meshing means 12, 13, which are distributedwith corresponding distance A between themselves, which conforms withthe operative distance B between the conveyor pins 10, 11, and which aredistributed along the length or extension of the mat.

The mat 3 along at least one of its lateral edges 3A, 3B exhibitsseveral bosses 12, 13 at a mutual distance A from each other,distributed along the length extension of the mat.

It appears from for instance in FIG. 7, that a mat end edge 3A is formedfrom a boss having a part 16, 17 radially projecting from an essentiallycylindric body 14, which said body has a pin receiving space 18, 19which has a complementary shape adapted to receive a conveyor pin 10,11.

In addition to the driving and sealing function of the compressingchamber 6, the end plates 8, 9, when kept at a mutual distance C fromeach other, also function to operate as a bale hoisting device whenlocated at open ends 15, 15A and thereby hold a pressed bale 5 duringsaid lifting phase. For said lifting purposes, the end plates 8, 9 arepivotably supported by arms 23, 24 in an arcuate direction 20 towardsand away from the compressing chamber 6. This lift arm assembly 22consists of two arms 23, 24 connected with each other via a pivot joint25. The lift arm assembly 22 further may exhibit an adapted length orextension D (FIG. 6) to be able to lead the end plates 8, 9 between abaling position 1, as is shown in FIG. 4, and from there, to a swung outposition 11, which is shown in FIG. 1, and which is suitable fordelivery of a pressed bale 5 from between the arms 23, 24 and the endplates 8, 9 to a subsequent working station for an automatic airtightwrapping of the bale with a plastic film or a similar airtight cover.

In order to achieve holding a pressed bale 5 between plates 8, 9, theplates may exhibit a number of bale fastening means 25, 26 actingaxially. Said bale fastening means can be formed by a number of spears25, 26 that are movable axially 27 toward the inside of the compressionchamber and extending respectively through the end plates 8, 9 to belaunched out 27A therefrom influenceably guided from an axially movableactuatable disc 280, which acts between a position where it is insertedon the inside of an end plate 8, 9 respectively, and is conveyableoutside the bale pressing part of said end disc, that is, the inside 8B,9B of the respective end plate 8, 9.

Actuation of the disc 280 may occur via a number of race means 30 inradial grooves 29 located in the middle of the disc received, which racemeans are connected to the spears 25, 26. Actuation of a driving means31, for instance hydraulic cylinders, causes axial displacement 27, 27Aof the spears 25, 26.

The pressing mat 3 can be formed by several closely connected andpivotably articulated plate shaped slats 32, 32A, 32B, each made ofmetal or other similar material and which forms the driving engagementmeans 12, 13 on opposite facing end edges or sides 32¹ and 32²respectively.

Further, the pressing mat 3 can be formably guided by a movable guideframe 33, which defines a substantially annular shaped compressionchamber 6. The guide frame is divided into three sections 34, 35, 36,each of which can be force actuated by means of hydraulic driven jacks(not shown) causing the sections to be swung between a swung out 37, 38opened bale retracting position III, as shown in FIG. 6, and a swunginwards 39, 40 closing position I, as shown in FIG. 4. Storage means 41,42 are present along said guide frame 33, and are cooperative with theunderside surface 3C of the press mat which faces away from thecompression chamber 6, and are preferably comprised of a series ofroller bearings.

The frame sections 34-36 can be pivotably connected to each otherlaterally and each section has an arcuate shape similar to that of abanana, with rolls 43 being pivotably journalled between the framebearing supports 44, 45.

The function of the invention should have been obvious from the abovedescribed and with the FIG. 6 drawing, but it may be stated that in theintended compressing plant 2, in order to shape round bales 5 of wasteand similar goods, the goods are brought via a feeder 46 that is formedbetween a precompression band 47, which runs in the feeding direction48, and the outside 6A of the pressing mat 3 before it has reached intothe compressing chamber 6 during its operation; a press roller 49 alsois present. After a compression, the goods rotate around insidecompression chamber 6, which is laterally sealed by the end plates 8, 9,by means of which the pressing mat 3 is driven in the race direction 50(See FIG. 5). Before rewinding about the frame 33, the race direction 50of the mat is reversed to the race direction 51 relative to the endplates 8, 9, which are driven by hydraulic motors 52 situated at each ofthe end plates 8, 9. The goods may rotate until maximal compressionpressure has been achieved. A netting or bale yearn 53 is wound roundthe bale 5 in order to fix it in its compressed form. The bale press 3is then opened, so that the finished bale 5 can be withdrawn by means ofthe pivot arms 23, 24. The compression chamber 6 is closed and new goodsare then again fed into the plant 2.

Suitable fields of application for the present invention are forhouseholds, industrial waste, recyclable paper, recyclable plastic orother recyclable material and also for building waste and other unsortedcontainer waste.

Alternative fields of application can be for compression of industrialmanufacturing material, such as cotton, sheep's wool, etc., or forcompression baling of forest branches, instead of forming wood chipswhich give a low volume weight.

The bales of forestry can be stored outdoors in piles in order to dry,whereas in contrast, wood chips which must be dried by energy wastingfans in order not to generate heat and get moldy.

We claim:
 1. A compression and baling device for use with compressibleproducts comprising:a drivable pressing part comprised of an endless matthat is guidable and formable to thereby define a compression chamber,said compression chamber having a first and a second open end, saidcompression chamber for receiving products to be compressed and baled,said pressing mat delimited by a pair of lateral edges, each of whichincludes drive meshing means evenly distributed along a length of saidmat at said lateral edges; a driving part for driving said pressingpart, said driving part having a pair of laterally spaced, rotatable endplates, each of said end plates including a means for transmitting drivepower to said pressing part, said transmission means in drivingengagement with said drive meshing means, said transmission means facingoutwards of said compression chamber; and an output part for handling acompressed bale of product, said output part pivotably connected to andsupporting said end plates.
 2. The device according to claim 1, whereinthe power transmission means is formed of conveyor pins projectingaxially from the end plates and the mat along its lateral edge includesbosses distributed at a mutual distance from each other.
 3. The deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein the bosses have a part which projectsradially from a cylindrically shaped body, which body has a receivingspace that is shaped to be adapted to a conveyor pin.
 4. The deviceaccording to claim 3, wherein the end plates function as a bale hoistingdevice.
 5. The device according to claim 3, wherein said pressing mat isformed of a plurality of pivotable and articulately connected plateshaped slats having opposing ends and made of metal or other similarlyhard material and which includes said driving meshing means at saidopposite end side edges, respectively.
 6. The device according to claim2, wherein the end plates function as a bale hoisting device.
 7. Thedevice according to claim 2, wherein said pressing mat is formed of aplurality of pivotable and articulately connected plate shaped slatshaving opposing ends and made of metal or other similarly hard materialand which includes said driving meshing means at said opposite end sideedges, respectively.
 8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the endplates function as a bale hoisting device.
 9. The device according toclaim 8, the end plates are pivotably supported by an arm assembly,which said assembly is adapted to extend in length in order to lead theend plates between a baling position and a swung out position fordelivery of a compressed bale for subsequent wrapping with plastic filmor similar envelope.
 10. The device according to claim 9, wherein theend plates include axially acting bale fastening means inserted on aninside face of each end plate, which said fastening means are comprisedof spears extending through the end plates and are actuatably guided byan axially movable actuatable disc via a race means received in a trackformed in each of the discs, which said race means are connected withthe spears.
 11. The device according to claim 9, wherein said pressingmat is formed of a plurality of pivotable and articulately connectedplate shaped slats having opposing ends and made of metal or othersimilarly hard material and which includes said driving meshing means atsaid opposite end side edges, respectively.
 12. The device according toclaim 8, the end plates include axially acting bale fastening meansinserted on an inside face of each end plate, which said fastening meansare comprised of spears extending through the end plates and are guidedby an axially movable actuatable disc received in a track formed in eachof the discs, which said race means are connected with the spears. 13.The device according to claim 12, wherein said pressing mat is formed ofa plurality of pivotable and articulately connected plate shaped slatshaving opposing ends and made of metal or other similarly hard materialand which includes said driving meshing means at said opposite end sideedges, respectively.
 14. The device according to claim 8, wherein saidpressing mat is formed of a plurality of pivotable and articulatelyconnected plate shaped slats having opposing ends and made of metal orother similarly hard material and which includes said driving meshingmeans at said opposite end side edges, respectively.
 15. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said pressing mat is formed of a pluralityof pivotable and articulately connected plate shaped slats havingopposing ends and made of metal or other similarly hard material andwhich includes said driving meshing means at said opposite side edges,respectively.
 16. The device according to claim 1, wherein the pressingmat is formably guided by a movable guide frame into a generallycircular compression chamber, said guide frame being divided intoseveral sections and being force actuated to be swung between a swungout bale retracting position and a swung in closed position, whereinbearing means are provided along said guide frame and are cooperativewith a surface of the pressing mat, said bearing means being offset fromthe compression chamber, said means being roller bearings.